Chinese firm to operate cruise ships in South China Sea
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This file photo shows a part of the city of Sansha on Woody Island in the disputed Paracel chain, which China now considers part of its Hainan Province. ©AFP
Beijing’s largest shipping company is set to launch cruise travels in the disputed South China Sea in an effort to develop tourism in the region.
The chairman of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO), Xu Lirong said the shipping line will begin the cruise trips next month, the China Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The first rout will link Sanya in the southern Chinese Province of Hainan with Yongle, part of the Xisha Islands, known internationally as Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, according to the report.
Xu said the cruise travels would be “practical to stimulate the local economy through development of tourism, logistics and infrastructure facilities.”
COSCO signed a contract in April with China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corp and China Communications Construction Co Ltd to jointly establish a cruise company aimed at offering tourism services in the South China Sea.
The cruise company will provide tourism services to major islands in Paracels chain, according to the report.
COSCO is not the first company to offer trips to the Paracels. Hainan Strait Shipping Co Ltd has also been operating cruise services between Sanya and the Paracels for more than two years.
ME
